AUL and friends

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Tank still not crystal, but looks much clearer this morning šŸ¤—


Fire eel is enjoying its new space!


Overall I’m super happy with how things look. All inhabitants need a bit of conditioning, but with time and appropriate amounts of nutritious feeding we’ll get there šŸ¤™šŸ¼
 
I was planning to add 6 geo sveni to the tank but sitting here infront of it for an hour this morning if feels like a great balance of slothful and active inhabitants šŸ¤—

 
Ah, yes, that lovely "external digestion" that is so beloved of lungfish. Chew, chew, chew...spit it out to see how it's doing...chew some more...take another look....not their most endearing trait. :)

Tank looks great, nice mix of shapes and activity levels. The Clown Loaches are terrific as a school of high-class dithers. What species of Geos are those? And you were thinking of adding another 6 G.sveni?

Personally, I get a little tired of the bottom-hugging behaviour of some Geo types. I wanted balzanis for years, was ecstatic when I finally got some, but quickly grew tired of that 2-dimensional lifestyle. They rarely moved more than a few inches into the water column, never ate any food that wasn't on or almost on the bottom. My dimerus are better, but not much.

If you are adding more fish, I think you should consider something that is a little more surface-oriented. And with the mix you have now, you can choose some small schooling species for the role, since nothing you have is particularly predatory. I've heard that some Fire Eels can be fish-eaters, but the big one I had ignored any other fish regardless of size. Maybe a school of danios or small tetras?

There is something extra special about a peaceful tank that contains big gentle giants like your AUL in combination with a school of small, active fish higher in the water. And nothing makes a big tank look even bigger quite as perfectly as a bunch of small fish in it. Try it! :)
 
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Thanks jjohnwm jjohnwm , very good advice. The bala sharks do inhabit the mid column quite well, but adding some mid-upper column fish is definitely a strong possibility. Species to be determined. I do love Congo tetras, so they’re on the list for sure…

The geos are pyrocephalus, red head topajos. They are very active across the entire footprint of the big tank in low-mid zone. I was planning on the sveni, but have decided against that now, seeing how well they inhabit the space.

More to come…
 
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This picture was sent to me the previous owner. The AUL in a 5gal bucket aken in Nov 23 šŸ˜‹

IMG_7433.jpeg

I also received a manilla folder of Aussie lungfish paraphernalia that he purchased since owning it. I will get some pics up of that stuff too cause it’s actually pretty interesting šŸ¤™šŸ¼
 
The AUL is doing very well. Feeding very well. The FE on the other hand comes out when it smells good but has not visibly eaten anything for 2 weeks. Sniffs at its old favorite silversides but the ā€œlightning fastā€ AUL ends up eating them. At a bit of a loss but still haven’t tried market shrimp yet…

Watching the tank this afternoon and noticed this behavior between 2 of the bala’s. I have never kept them before so I’m clueless as to their behaviors and habits.


Anyone have experience with this behavior? Love? Aggression, tho persistent it doesn’t seem aggressive? Courting? Do they even breed in captivity?

More to come…
 
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Thank you Fishman Dave Fishman Dave
I did find an older thread where this behavior was also described as court v or breeding behavior, but the very little I know about this species, all indications from body shape suggest the 2 in the bid are males.
Appreciate you getting back with me mate šŸ¤™šŸ¼
 
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